ePageCity

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Blue Vista Capital Management is an institutional real estate investment firm based in Chicago, IL.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ePageCity?

Blue Vista hired ePageCity to develop a new website. The firm's old website was using outdated back-end architecture, security measures and design standards.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to have a secure and responsive website, with a back-end that was easier to navigate than what we were using.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We did a competitive bid process, with four finalists. We ultimately choice ePageCity due to price and quality of customer service.

Describe the project in detail.

The project consisted of several discovery meetings early on, reviews of wireframes, and then development of site design and content.

There was quite a bit of adjustment to the site design versus the initial wireframes, and ePageCity was very flexible about making changes. They also went out of their way to clean up our online search results after a web hack from our old site.

What was the team composition?

The main point of contact was a project manager, and we also worked with a content coordinator who helped with the site management and back-end training.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We've received positive feedback from our employees and several external users on the new site's layout and content.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everyone at ePageCity was very responsive and communicated clearly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I think ePageCity's strength is in their development platform. From a technical standpoint, they understand how to build a website, hosting services and content management.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only place where ePageCity maybe has room to improve is on the graphic design front, but if you know what look you want and can guide them then it is not a major issue. Overall we are satisfied with our end result.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Co-owner of a boutique, international executive coaching firm. I run the operations, finance and marketing of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ePageCity?

We needed a modern, relevant and impactful "legitimizer" website for our firm, replacing our now-dated website.

What were your goals for this project?

Our website needed to outline our essencial products, be directed to senior exectives and their support functions (HR), and legitimzie SPEC as an established, successful, respected professional consulting firm.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Prior experience with ePageCity led us to believe they were the best choice to shepard us through the process.

Describe the project in detail.

They works closely with us to determine the look/feel of site, exchanging ideas and examples until we hit on what we felt was our new look. Collaboratively decided on photos, navigation, testiments, resources and color theme.

What was the team composition?

I led the effort here and there was a three-person team at ePageCity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

When we were stuck here, ePageCity put ideas on website demo which spurred us to action. They gentley moved us to action. It worked great. We kept most of the suggestions and those we did not keep provided a jumping off point for our decisions.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Always respectful and encouraging. They stayed within budget, listened to our desires and concerns. Worked with us hand-in-hand on a project we only do every ten years. We really relied on their expertise and experience.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed by the collaborative nature of the process. They listened, they explained, they offered choices of solutions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only area that needed improvement was on our end with our own decisiveness and response speed. EPageCity was great. A lot of value for the the price.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the communications director for the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Cabrini Sisters. We’re an international order of religious women.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ePageCity?

We wanted to increase the name recognition of the Missionary Sisters and heighten awareness that the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart is equated with Mother Cabrini. We’re trying to heighten awareness that one equals the other.

In addition to that, the sisters are always looking for people who could be seeking a religious life as their vocation. We have a rather extensive section on our website that people can visit to learn more about the Missionary Sisters and discern whether or not they might be interested in joining.

The purpose was two-fold: our branding (name recognition) as well as vocational promotion.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed the website using WordPress. When we did a site refresh, we created a new homepage with them and tweaked some internal pages as well. 
It was a very methodical process.

They were very detailed oriented about walking us through what to expect at certain points of the process. They explained what they would need from us and what they, in turn, would give. They created a checklist of our wants and desires, and they walked us through an overview of how the site would represent our organization. 

What is the team composition?

From start to finish, we worked with 4–5 people. We initially worked with someone who was in sales or marketing. 

Once we contracted with them, we were also assigned a web designer who had an internal team she worked with. We also worked with Jessica (Account Manager, ePageCity) who covered more of the business side. 

How did you come to work with ePageCity?

I asked a webmaster for his advice about hiring a web design firm given our budget constraints. He recommended a couple of local firms in Philadelphia, and he said he had heard of ePageCity in Chicago. 

We did phone interviews with two local firms here in Philadelphia, ePageCity, as well as another design firm. ePageCity was able to work within our budget constraints while providing a comprehensive product, service, and design elements. This was far above what anyone else could do, so we decided to go with them.

How much have you invested in them?

The first time, the total redo cost around $16,000. When we did the refresh, we spent less than $4,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them on the newly designed website in 2014, and the refresh happened in late 2017 through early 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The product that they gave us for the amount that we were able to spend (we didn’t have a huge budget) was both excellent and phenomenal. 

We’ve had a significant increase in the number of inquiries we’re receiving through the website. We’ve noticed a 50% increase in vocation inquiries through our website since 2014. 

Now, we’re looking at how to expand our online inquiry page to capture more information from those who are inquiring with us.

Our experience with ePageCity was so good that we did our website refresh with them. We had no doubt we’d go right back to ePageCity because of the great job they did the first time around.

How did ePageCity perform from a project management standpoint?

Without reservation, I would highly recommend ePageCity to anyone. Their support service is 24/7. They are always there to handle my inquiries as I’m not a technology person.

I do all the uploading on the WordPress platform, and they walk me through the tutorials. It was a lot to really grasp at first, and I could call them back with repeated questions, but they were always very patient and very responsive.

Initially, when we were deciding which firm we wanted to hire, we were in touch with them at least once a week. Then, once we signed the contract, we did a lot of upfront consultation. Then, we were in touch a couple of times per month.

Following that, they would let us know when they needed content by sending requests. The second time we did the refresh, we held some conversations a couple of times a week or once a week. It was far less intense than the total redesign of our website.

From each stage of the process, we found that they were very responsive and very detailed in their explanations. They’re based in Chicago and we’re in suburban Philadelphia, so we never met face to face. It was all conducted via Zoom. Yet, we felt the whole process was very personal.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was a seamless collaboration. Everyone was very friendly and appreciative of the fact that we were not technology people. They really clarified things for us and didn’t assume we would know the things that we were presenting. 

They didn’t seem to rush through anything and were always thoughtful, patient, and comprehensive in their responses. They took the time to get to know who we were as an organization and how we wanted to be portrayed on the internet. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

This relates to me personally because I’m not a technology expert. When the site launches, they give you a tutorial. For me, it was a lot to grasp in a short amount of time. My recommendation would be to break the tutorial down into more soundbite types of modules so it’s not so much material at one time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You have to have a good understanding of how you want to appear through your website to the public. You have to do your homework prior to meeting with that because that will help them plan their timeline. You should be ready to provide them with your deliverables so they can move to the next phase. 

If you aren’t ready to provide them with the information they request, they will put the project aside until the client is ready, which ultimately delays your launch. We were able to meet their requests successfully all along, so we met all of our expectations for the timeline

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the executive director at Lindenhurst Park District.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ePageCity?

We wanted to modernize our outdated website to improve its security and make it mobile/tablet friendly. We also wanted to implement a new registration software through the site, so we turned to ePageCity to help us navigate the process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

ePageCity helped us explore options to update our site. We worked with an overall manager who posed two directions: a complete redesign or a retrofit. The latter would involve moving the site to a WordPress system without doing a full redesign.

Once we decided to go with a retrofit, they walked us through our different options, taking note of what we liked or didn’t like and seeing how elements from their past work could fit our purposes. 

The team then organized the retrofit for our website. They sent over a preview of the improved display—which was now mobile- and tablet-friendly—and started to migrate our content from our legacy system. The project manager also worked directly with our registration company to ensure that they implemented the software correctly.

After a few minor changes, we approved the final site, and they got it up and running.

What is the team composition? 

I’d worked with two main points of contact, but I’m sure there were others working in the background.

How did you come to work with ePageCity?

They’d actually designed our previous iteration in 2009, but I don’t know how we found them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $9,500 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project lasted from May–July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We just went live in August 2019, so we don’t have much external feedback yet. However, our internal staff has been pleased with the retrofitting. Since we’re using WordPress, now, it’s been extremely easy for us to pick up, and we’re all comfortable with the system.

The site itself is mobile- and tablet-responsive, and it’s a lot easier to navigate than before. While we didn’t get to do a complete redesign, I’m looking forward to doing a new design 3–5 years in the future.

How did ePageCity perform from a project management standpoint?

They did very well. Whenever I needed to communicate with them or vice versa, they were always available. We’d coordinate through phone calls, emails, and screen sharing tutorials.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were able to do what we needed them to do, and everything worked out in a fairly short period of time. They met our deadline, were on top of the project, and communicated everything as far as our options and how to use the site.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we got what we expected, which was a good thing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the communications manager for 4C for Children, a resource and referral agency for early childhood education in Ohio. We help parents and childcare providers ensure a strong early childhood education foundation for the youngest kids in our communities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ePageCity?

We hired ePageCity to help us revamp our website. It had to be refreshed and the navigation needed improvement to better serve our clients. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ePageCity took us through the whole process of redesigning our site and figuring out what wasn’t working well for us. Once we identified the areas to improve, we spent time brainstorming what our ideal platform would do for our clients. Their team asked pointed questions about how to integrate the site with our systems and led us through that process. 

From there, we established our plan for creating any special pages and their team began the design phase.

They shared best practices around content development and created easy to use templates for us to add content to. In addition, they led us through training to use the new CMS and again shared ideas about how to use the various tools included in the system. Also on the site, they created a catalog of training classes that enable users to sort through options by topic, region, instructor, etc.

What is the team composition?

On a regular basis, we were in contact with two teammates, but there were others in the business who worked with us. 

How did you come to work with ePageCity?

I’d worked with ePageCity at a previous company before; they came recommended by a colleague. They did a great job updating an antiquated website for me, and I was impressed with them. Both projects were for nonprofits, and our limited budget didn't phase them. 

For this recent project, I considered them and two local agencies. We chose ePageCity because my teammates were impressed with their capabilities and presentation. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent under $50,000, since that was our budget. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2018 – March 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Childcare providers have commented on how easy it is to navigate the site and new catalog. This means more users can find relevant courses and information. Because of the new design of the site, we can post more diverse media, including videos, which is great for us. 

How did ePageCity perform from a project management standpoint?

They kept the project on track. Since we had to meet a specific deadline within six months, they were able to keep all pieces of the project flowing. There was a lot happening on both their end and ours, but we were able to meet all deadlines because of how they collaborated with us. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attention to detail stands out to us. Also, their ability to integrate our forms and database into the site was very impressive. Because of their approach, we had a very smooth, seamless launch. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can think of for them to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be worried about the distance between your teams. My team was concerned about it at the beginning, but I knew it wouldn’t be an issue with ePageCity. In the 10 years since we first worked together, technology has made it even easier to communicate from far away and they have it down to a science. 

Also, make sure your team is organized and put together. If you have your team pulled together, it’s going to be easier. Although ePageCity is adaptable, having everything structured will limit any struggles. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Elementum Advisors, LLC is an alternative asset management firm specializing in investments within the insurance-linked securities arena. We focus specifically on securities related to all-natural weather perils. I wear multiple hats at the firm, but, for the purposes of this project, I manage communications from a marketing and investor relations standpoint.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ePageCity?

This most recent project was a redesign and update of the initial site that ePageCity created for us in 2014.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to take our website and repackage it to provide the same level of information with a more up-to-date look and feel.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

This was my third project with ePageCity. The first was with my previous firm. I was not involved in selecting ePageCity as the web developer for that project, but once they were contracted, I spearheaded the work with them to create the firm's first website. Because of this, I was very familiar with both the company and their process.

When I was tasked with recreating Elementum's website in 2014, ePageCity was my first choice. I had a positive experience with them while employed at my previous firm.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

For this project, ePageCity took the webpage that they designed for us in 2014 and migrated it to a new design, giving it a more modern, updated look. This included a total redesign of the color scheme and page framework, improved navigation, and the addition of specialized features like a dynamic timeline and homepage video.

What was the team composition?

I worked mainly with three people. There was a content coordinator, a chief strategist, and a digital account manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The new website is amazing. It's fresh, up-to-date, and reflective of the more modern trends in web development. Many of our clients have commented on it and have given positive feedback on the new look and feel of the site.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Having a smaller team dedicated to the project was a big plus. I always knew what components were coming from which individuals, which made it easier to stay on top of what needed to be done from my end. I also found it easy to reach out to the appropriate person when I had questions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

ePageCity does better work than all of the companies that we originally reached out to for a fraction of the cost. They are very good at understanding what you're looking to accomplish, even if you're not fully aware of what that is. They’ll work within your budget to give you a site that puts you in league with your larger competitors who spend upwards of six digits for a lower quality site.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Through the course of my project, I could not find any.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the executive director at Faith Countryside Homes, a skilled nursing facility and assisted living facility. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ePageCity?

We reached out to ePageCity to redesign our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After building our website from scratch in 2013, we reached out to ePageCity again to redesign the site. They also redesigned our logo, color scheme, and elements of the content and layout of the site. 

What is the team composition? 

I just worked with one main point of contact on their team.

How did you come to work with ePageCity?

Based on the good experience we had working with them originally in 2013, we decided to reengage them for this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The most recent redesign project took place between November 2018–January 2019. They continue to make themselves available as needed for any technical assistance. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

In addition to improved performance, we've also received a lot of positive comments regarding the user-friendliness and design of the new site. They also delivered it quickly, exceeding our expectations in the process. 

How did ePageCity perform from a project management standpoint?

Both times we've worked with them, they've been very responsive and collaborative. They utilized project management tools that allowed us to make comments on iterations of designs as they were ready and provided training on how to use the new platform. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism sets them apart. We also liked that we were able to work with the same person as we originally worked with in 2013, which shows stability within their company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. They were very responsive to our needs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No, but I'd definitely recommend working with them on any web design project based on our experience. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-owner of a small business-services firm that provides coaching and consulting to business owners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ePageCity?

We wanted to create a website that provides accountability, information, and other resources for our clients and prospects. We needed several components to the site. We wanted the site to be a place where current clients could find resources and links to other support services we provide. We also needed to be able to introduce the nature of our business and specific expertise to prospective clients. We wanted to include a range of content, like videos and white papers, while ensuring that it was easy to navigate.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ePageCity developed our website from scratch including the design and UX. They used the initial designs that we had developed and the content from an earlier effort. They gave us advice on the design, what features to incorporate, and how to layout the content. We gave them a list of the basic elements we wanted to incorporate and brainstormed together how to best lay it out. They provided wireframes and options for templates.

The project took about six years because we started and then we put it all on hold as we redesigned some of the primary features of our business. Then we picked it back up again.

What is the team composition?

We had a main point of contact. Beyond that, I interacted directly with at least five different people but there were more people working behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with ePageCity?

We were introduced to them by a local client who had used them and had great success with their own website. At the time, ePageCity also had an office here in Denver and we wanted to work with someone local. When they closed this office to just operate out of Chicago, we had such a good relationship and were so pleased with the process that we decided to continue working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $5,000–10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2012–October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve only had the site up for a few months but our clients are thrilled to have access to the things that we used to have to email to them. We’re also now able to respond to a referral with a web link rather than a lot of attachments. Our business is 90% referral. The site really facilitates the process of prospecting for new clients.

The process itself was extremely successful. Everything we ever asked for, we got. They were receptive to how we wanted the site to work and informative about the best ways to get those outcomes. We felt like we were working with experts.

How did ePageCity perform from a project management standpoint?

Most of our communication was by email. We also used a collaborative web-based tool with a dashboard through which we could approve designs or make changes. Sometimes we communicated daily and at other times it was weekly at less, depending on the phase of the project. We mostly worked through our main point of contact but sometimes I would liaise directly with the person responsible for the given task.

They were always responsive. If we needed something, we heard back immediately. I was always well informed. There were some changes in personnel given how long our project lasted but we always knew who we were dealing with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It's hard to say because I think everything they did was awesome. I think though, that the primary need of someone developing a website is that the developer understands the objectives so that they can direct you to the best product. ePageCity did a great job of listening to our needs to help us to create a site that best satisfied those.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would have been nice for us if they had kept their Denver office open. Separately, there was some early confusion on some of the billing but they clarified that for us. Overall, I was very pleased.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It would be helpful to have most of the content prepared in advance including a pool of images, videos, and links to incorporate. They move more quickly than you’d expect, so be ready with the content. In general, be ready to move as quickly as you can because they work at a fast pace.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Herbs & Arts. We’re a brick-and-mortar and online natural wellness store.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ePageCity?

We’d never had an e-commerce store, so we hired them to build one for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we worked on creating a design that worked for the business and conveyed our brand effectively. We gave them some ideas, which they used to create several choices for us. Our in-house graphic designer contributed some of the artwork, but they adapted it so it would work on the e-commerce site.

What is the team composition?

We had a project manager and several designers and coders. I don’t remember how many.

How did you come to work with ePageCity?

I searched for contractors online and interviewed a few different companies. I ultimately chose them because I liked the tools they wanted to use, even though they weren’t the cheapest option. The store they built is simple enough that I can edit nearly everything myself without any technical knowledge.

How much have you invested with them?

The initial project cost between $8,000–$10,000. We spent another $5,000 to optimize for mobile later on.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the project between June–December 2011.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve been working with them for eight years now and we’ve never had any issues with the stability of our site. It’s always online and we rarely have any errors.

Having all of our products online and searchable has helped our business quite a bit. We’d been in business for some time before launching the online store, but we’ve been seeing double-digit increases in sales year over year for about five or six years now. The total sales volume has doubled since we did this project.

How did ePageCity perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive and someone was always available to take our questions. They also incorporated every feature we asked for without any problems. We kept in touch at least twice a week during the design phase, but they were flexible about responding whenever I needed them. They also did a good job of listening to our concerns and translating the vibe of our physical store into the online environment.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The site they built has functioned extremely reliably for years.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of any.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d recommend them to anyone who needs to set up an online store. They listen well and offer constructive feedback during the concept phase. They also did a good job of making the technical elements clear even though I’m not familiar with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a self-employed writer. I’ve written novels since 1994.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ePageCity?

A decade ago, I had little to no online presence and needed an agency to build a website for me.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They established my whole digital presence, excluding Facebook. They presented two website designs for me to choose from, and I selected the one I liked better. Now, whenever a new book comes out, I can post most of the content up myself. The team still helps make sure everything is correct when I ask them to. I’m not particularly tech-savvy, but they’re always patient and helpful when I have a question or need assistance.

What is the team composition?

I initially worked with one or two people, but now I have one dedicated point of contact from their team.

How did you come to work with ePageCity?

I think I found them online, though it’s possible that someone recommended them to me. After I went down to their offices to meet them, I decided to work with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

They made the site for me about ten years ago and have supported me on an as-needed basis ever since.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

ePageCity is utterly responsible and responsive. The new website they delivered is a great place for me to post content. It's also a useful tool that helps me publicize book tours and other events. It’s useful to have one place where all my information resides.

How did ePageCity perform from a project management standpoint?

For the original project involving my website, they were timely, provided what I asked for, and accommodated my rather old-fashioned approach. They’ve since offered to update and improve the site. I appreciate that they're never pushy, however.  Most of our communication takes place through phone and email. We only tend to speak a few times a year at this point, but I can still reach out for support when I run into an issue I can’t solve on my own.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their patience, kindness, and willingness to help me with even basic tasks is wonderful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any areas of improvement for them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would definitely recommend ePageCity and urge people to go and meet with them. They can do all sorts of things and would be a great match for anyone who needs help with technology.